I always wanted to be a Mom.
When I was growing up, I was around girls who wanted to travel and see the world, who wanted to go to college and have a career, who wanted to wait to have kids until they were ready and then only have one or two so they could give them everything they thought they had had to live without.
I always knew I wanted to be a Mom and one day a Grandmother.
I grew up in a hard working family. You took whatever life gave you and made the most of it. My grandparents on both sides had been farmers. They had worked long and hard to make a living. There was no welfare programs or food stamps or anything like that. What you had was family.
I have wonderful memories of my grandparents. We visited them often. They were always a part of our lives. They raised their families and were there for them and when they got older, their families were there for them.
I was around babies most of my life. I knew how to feed and take care of them. I knew how to change diapers and babysat younger cousins often. Being a mom is what you did and I looked forward to the day to be able to have children of my own.
To me, being a Mom is what you did. Those other things were not necessarily bad things, it is just that I wanted to be a Mom more.
My Mother went to work when my Dad had two back surgeries and worked until after I was married. She did what had to be done and even though I missed her and hated her not being there, it was a part of life. She was a good Mom and did the best she could under her circumstances. She was a great example to me.
When i met and married my husband, he too had been raised in a home with a working mom. We did not want that if at all possible.
We were blessed throughout our lives that I was able to be home with our family.
Being a Mom was hard work and a challenge. I learned and grew and found joy in the process. I was blessed with great kids and they taught me so much along the way.
Even before my children were all grown and out of the home, I looked forward to being a Grandmother. It was not a negative thing to me. It did not mean being old, it meant having grandchildren and having the fun and joy of seeing them grow up. I couldn't wait to be a Grannie.
As my children grew up and married, I was blessed with wonderful sons and daughters-in-law. They too have been a joy. They are so talented and are raising great kids. They have each taught me many things.
I was not a perfect Mom, any more than my mother or grandmother were perfect before me, but I did the best I could under my circumstances. I loved it and am loving being a Grandmother. I do not regret not going to college or having a career.
I have learned more about what life is all about from my children and grandchildren. They are still teaching me and I am thankful for the privilege of being a Mom.
2 comments:
Thank you for sharing. You know, it has been quite a struggle for me adjusting to being a stay-at-home mom. It's hard to explain because I LOVE it, and I love being with Taylor. I don't want to miss a thing that goes on in her life, but at the same time, it does bother me a little that I'm not using my nursing degree. I have an excellent short-term memory, but the saying, "If you don't use it, you lose it," definitely applies to me, and I already feel like I have forgotten so much! Like I said, it's hard to explain because I don't feel bad staying at home, and I definitely don't miss having to be at work so early. I guess I just want to have my cake and eat it, too! ;-)
In other words, you are normal. Each of us are different. You worked long and hard for your nursing degree. It does not mean you don't enjoy being a mom because you would still like to use your skills in nursing. In fact it makes you a better Mom,because you made a consious choice to give up another love for your family.
Post a Comment